Round Pöllau via Buchkogel, Rabenwald and Gschaid, Pöllau

Name: Round Pöllau via Buchkogel, Rabenwald and Gschaid, Pöllau
Brand: Steiermark
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

Demanding hike with marvellous views in the scenic realm of the Hirschbirn and many insights into the biological diversity of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park.

From Pöllau, we hike through the Haidenwald forest to the Buchkogel and on via the Rabenwald forest to the Gschaid, before finally returning to our starting point in Pöllau.

During this hike, we experience the diverse landscape of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park, the ideal setting for biodiversity in our region.

If the visibility is good, we like to choose the variant a little below the Buchkogel (see route description), where we can enjoy a breathtaking view over the entire Pöllau Valley and far beyond to the Hochwechsel, the Hartbergerland and even as far as Hungary from the Krämer family estate.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

medium

Level of difficulty

55,3 km

Route

10:00 h

Time

930 hm

Uphill

930 hm

Downhill

1252 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

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More information

Pöllau, castle park

By car from Vienna

If you are driving from Vienna to Pöllau near Hartberg, take the A2 towards Graz and drive about 110 kilometers until you reach the Hartberg exit. From there, follow the B54 in the direction of Pöllau.

By car from Graz

To get from Graz to Pöllau bei Hartberg, take the A2 in the direction of Vienna. After about 30 kilometers, take the Gleisdorf West exit and then take the B54 towards Hartberg/Pöllau. Follow the B54 for about 25 kilometers until you reach Pöllau.

By car from Salzburg

To get to Pöllau bei Hartberg from Salzburg, take the A1 towards Vienna. Drive about 110 kilometers to exit 109 (Salzburg junction). There change to the A9 towards Graz. At St. Michael, follow the S6 towards Kapfenberg. Continue on the S6 until the Krieglach exit. From there, take the B72 and then the L405 to Pöllau.

Pöllau - Haidenwaldturm - Freibergerhöhe - Buchkogel - Schwaigkreuz (Rabenwald)

Starting from the center of Pöllau or the castle park (signpost east of the Parkcafe), head south through Lamberggasse or Remigigasse and follow the red-white-red trail no. 944 towards GH Schirnhofer - Stubenberg, where you will also pass the observation tower in Haidenwald.
On this section of the hike (always marked red-white-red no. 944) we reach the Freibergerhöhe weather cross.
Now we follow the white-blue-white markings no. 1 northwards over the Buchkogel or - as a less strenuous alternative - over the Krämer family estate with its magnificent view.
At the TV transmitter, we cross the Pöllau - Stubenberg country road and then come to the Schwaigkreuz.

Schwaigkreuz - detour to the Rabenwald summit - Stöss

From the Schwaigkreuz, we head half left in a northerly direction following the red-white-red markings no. 922
(Alternative: if you want to shorten this hike, take the 922 marker on the right back to Pöllau)
After the hunting lodge, we can make a detour to the 1280 m high Rabenwald summit, the highest mountain in the Pöllau Valley Nature Park.
Follow the signs for this detour. From the Rabenwald summit, we follow the "Anger" signpost along a path between rocks and then descend steeply back to path no. 922. This alpine path heading north leads us steadily downhill over the "Spielstatt" to the viewpoint with a weather cross.
We continue to follow the markings and come to the red-white-red marking no. 921 at the Gschaider Kögerln above the farm of the Lehrhofer family, vulgo "Stöss".

Stöss - Gschaid Sattel - Grottenstüberl - Pöllauer

Following the red-white-red markings no. 921, we reach the main road and the Gschaid Sattel.
From the Gschaid we follow the white-blue-white (no. 2) marked route down the valley towards Pöllau until we reach the estate of the Almer family, vulgo Toni auf der Wiesen.
We now head south towards Pöllau, keeping to the yellow-blue markings no. 3 and no. 2, past Hotel Gruber, via Hinterbrühl to the Almbauer mill/bakery.
The Ortenhofenstraße leads us back to the starting point in the castle park or the center of Pöllau.

We strongly recommend packing enough food and making sure you are well equipped (e.g. shoes/socks)!

Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie.
For local transport we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark. HF5943 Pöllau Schlosszwinger

Pöllau, castle park
P&R at the Pöllau bypass

Information about the region, places to stop for refreshments and overnight accommodation, excursion destinations etc. can be found here:

Eastern Styria Tourist Board
Pöllau Valley Nature Park office
Castle 1
8225 Pöllau
Phone: +43 3335 4210
www.naturpark-poellauertal.at
www.oststeiermark.com

Current weather
Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM

Kompass Map, Hiking Map Nature Park Pöllauer Valley 1:30,000

Find out about maps, hiking brochures and other tour tips at the tourist office. You can also order information material on our website from the comfort of your own home.

Rother hiking guide "Oststeiermark - Von den Fischbacher Alpen bis in die Thermenregion", 50 tours, Elisabeth Zienitzer & Silvia Sarcletti paperback, ISBN-10, 376334577 available in bookshops